Russia is stepping up efforts to restrict the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), as authorities tighten control over digital communication in what diplomats have described as a “great crackdown.”
According to Digital Minister Maksut Shadayev, the government is working to reduce VPN usage, which millions of Russians rely on to bypass censorship and access restricted content. Speaking on the state-backed messenger MAX, he said efforts are being made to impose limits while minimising disruption to users.
In recent months, Russian authorities have repeatedly blocked mobile internet access, jammed major messaging services, and expanded powers to cut off mass communications. Officials have also restricted access to several unidentified foreign platforms, though specific names were not disclosed.
The crackdown has intensified since Russia’s Russian invasion of Ukraine, after which strict censorship laws were introduced. These measures strengthened the role of the Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
More recently, the government has escalated actions further by blocking WhatsApp, slowing down Telegram, and disrupting mobile internet services across Moscow and other regions.
The Kremlin maintains that these measures are necessary, stating that foreign platforms have failed to comply with national laws and that internet restrictions are required to counter large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks.
By mid-January, more than 400 VPN services had been blocked in Russia—an increase of 70% compared to late last year, according to reports from a newspaper.
Despite the clampdown, the situation remains fluid. As authorities shut down one VPN, others quickly emerge. Many younger users reportedly switch VPN services daily, reflecting an ongoing cat-and-mouse dynamic between regulators and users.
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